Are you ready? Here is my newest Chainsaw Therapy, featuring Safia and Rydan, from my main work-in-progress (WIP).
To find my first edition, click here. And to read the origin of this awesome exercise, by Katie of Whisperings of the Pen, click here.
[a bit of background for my characters]
Rydan: Crown prince of Gondoa (a large country loosely based on America). Eldest son of King Ryen and Queen Adrie; brother-in-law of the young King Colton, ruler of Ardos (sister kingdom to Gondoa), who married his older sister, Anna -- both now have two young children, Cassyndra and Cody; older brother of Sasha and Tori, princesses of Gondoa.
Safia: My main character, who has suffered much. Poor thing. Bless us and splash us! *ahem* O_o She has witnessed the death of her mother, eight years before, and most recently the death of her father and his entire merchant crew in a battle at sea. (Sounds a bit extreme, I know. . .) Rescued by the prince's men, who were returning to their home country after an ambassadorial trip to the Twelve Isles, she is welcomed as one of them. And the story goes on. . . =] She is quiet, reserved, has a slight temper, and is slow to trust.
Mo'mbweno Bongani: Known simply as Mo. A huge, dark-skinned giant of Makar (based on the familiar continent and countries of Africa), standing six foot seven. First mate of Rydan's ship, the Sea Falcon, and bosun of the royal family's ship, the Victory's Crown. Loyal to the kingdom of Gondoa and her rulers, personal friend and bodyguard of her crown prince.
Peder: You know him, right? =] Cadet of the Red Guard, a division of the elite fighting force of Gondoa. You can read more of his character and background in my seven-part short story, All in a Day's Work (Part 1).
Mo'mbweno Bongani: Known simply as Mo. A huge, dark-skinned giant of Makar (based on the familiar continent and countries of Africa), standing six foot seven. First mate of Rydan's ship, the Sea Falcon, and bosun of the royal family's ship, the Victory's Crown. Loyal to the kingdom of Gondoa and her rulers, personal friend and bodyguard of her crown prince.
Peder: You know him, right? =] Cadet of the Red Guard, a division of the elite fighting force of Gondoa. You can read more of his character and background in my seven-part short story, All in a Day's Work (Part 1).
To read another summary of my WIP, Safia, click here and scroll until you find the name Faina.
What are you waiting for? On to the story!
-----------------------------------------------
Rydan, crown prince of Gondoa, stood
at the helm of his ship, completely at ease in his role as captain.
His eyes roamed the deck below where a small number of his sailors
were spending their off-duty hour on a game of cards. He could hear
the soft laughter of men having a good time.
Breathing deeply as a fresh breeze
ruffled his hair, Rydan looked toward the bow of the ship. He caught
a glimpse of raven tresses and knew she was in her favorite spot,
nestled on the slim, cushioned bench in the nook of the prow. He
sighed. Though he relished the days at sea, this voyage was
different.
Different in the way he felt he was
losing something.
Safia.
Movement nearby interrupted his
reverie and caused him to turn.
“Mvamawe, Raja! Hail,
Prince! Did'ja miss me, life-friend? Were ye lonely?” greeted the
booming voice of a giant man with dark skin, a bald head, and a big
smile. He wore the custom attire of his home country, Makar;
consisting of a sleeveless shirt, matching tan breeches, a wide
maroon sash tied at the waist, and leather boots. A large golden
earring hung on his left ear and two arm-bands, of the same
substance, on his upper arms completed his native look.
“Mo! Where have you been? I
thought for sure that fish had come back for revenge and you were
helpless to escape. What a monster! And who says I'm lonely?” With one hand, Rydan released the spokes of the
ship's wheel to clasp his friend's hand. Mo'mbweno Bongani, known to
all as Mo, grinned and offered to relieve Rydan of his post.
“What creature can stand th' might
of Mo?” he replied, with a fist to his chest, as he took the wheel.
“None!” the prince agreed.
“Thanks, Mo,” he said, moving aside to allow his friend the power
of the helm. Stretching stiff limbs, he commented, “By the way,
what is on the menu for this
evening?”
“Now, why would I know de answer to
dat?”
Rydan laughed. “Because you smell as
if you were the one marinated and cooked in one of Cat's famous
stews. Taste testing again, are we?” Mo's expression of mock
astonishment and lost dignity almost caused Rydan to lose his
quizzical glare.
“Me? Commit such a crime? D'ye
think ol' Catfish would allow anyone other den 'imself to touch 'is
precious concoctions?”
Eyebrows raised, Rydan gave him a look.
“The ladle o' stew I had was beyond
delicious. Well worth the rap I got on de knuckle for it,” he
said, grinning.
“What is it? Seaman's Stew? Beefy
Bard's Bounty?”
“Oh no. I swore on pain o' death I
wouldn't tell a soul,” said the big man, serious. With his hands
on the helm, he leaned down closer to Rydan's eye level and
whispered, “ 'E threatened t' chop ma head off–wid 'is ladle.”
The prince could no longer contain the
mirth welling within. He burst into laughter. Mo humphed at his
post and glared straight ahead.
“Go on, Raja,” he mumbled.
“Ye can laugh all ye like, but ye won' get an answer from me.”
“Alright, alright! Keep your head.
If there's anyone on this ship you need fear, it's Catfish, the five
foot cook, and not the Makarian giant. Very well, Master Mo, I know
who to call if we find ourselves under attack.
“Aye. Beware the ladle.”
It must have been the manner in which
the dark man stated the latter sentence–a deadly serious tone–that
set the prince laughing once more. He slapped his friend on the
back, then ducked to avoid a return swipe that could possibly have
knocked him down.
“I'll be forward if anyone needs to
know,” he called when he had regained his breath, then turned for
the stairs that led to the lower deck.
Mo replied in a loud voice so all of
his men could hear, “Give 'er m' best greetings, Raja!”
Rydan sent him a glare, but continued to the main deck.
Safia half-heard the exchange between
the two men on the upper deck, and would have laughed with them had
she not been so preoccupied with thoughts of her late mother's
family. With every movement of the ship bringing her closer and
closer to the people she did not know, a home that would never be
home, and memories she wished to forget–it was all she could do to
keep from screaming, much less jumping at every sound.
Fingering the medallion her father had
given her with his dying breath, she felt a comfort. Her eyes closed
and she allowed the sway of the Falcon to calm her.
Moments passed like so until the
strong voice of a man awoke her from the pleasant doze.
“May I join you?” Safia opened
her eyes and looked up at the prince standing before her. She
smiled. Over the last few weeks, she had come to trust him as an
invaluable friend.
“Of course.” The bench, large
enough to hold three girls her size, was a comfortable length to
allow the two space with an incredible view from the fo’c’sle
deck, just before the bowsprit.
Safia drew her legs closer to her
chest, adjusting the folds of her skirt as he settled into the
cushions adjacent her. Hugging her knees, she looked at him, well
aware her current position was far from lady-like. At the moment, she didn't care.
She was far too weary from worry and fear.
Rydan reclined against the side
railing and stretched his legs before him, sighing contentedly. With
head back and eyes closed, he enjoyed the sea air as it riffled
through his dark locks. For a minute or so, they sat quietly. He
could feel her watching him. Peeking at her with one eye, he met
both of hers and was surprised by a sadness in the depths of deep
blue. A sadness she tried to hide.
Leaning forward, holding her eyes with
his, he voiced his concern.
“Are you well, Safia?” His tone
was soft. “The closer we have come to Charan, the quieter you
become. Is there something you are not telling me?
She looked away. There was far too much he didn't–couldn't–know.
She looked away. There was far too much he didn't–couldn't–know.
“I am fine,” she
hesitated, staring into the sea before them. “Honestly, I am afraid.”
“Afraid?”
Releasing the tight hold she had on
her knees, Safia stared at her hands, hating the tremors that were
beginning to run through them. She clasped them tighter and looked
to the horizon.
“I do not know my mother's family.
The vague memories of my childhood visits with them were few. Only
once do I remember seeing my grandparents, and that was in the town,
when they ventured far enough from their castle walls to speak with
the people they governed.” She shook her head, as if to rid her
mind of useless thoughts. “What if they won't accept me? What if they are gone? What–” she stopped herself. “It is nothing. Just the foolish worries of a little girl.”
They were silent until Rydan spoke a
moment later.
“I made a promise that I would take
you to the port of Sancor,” he began. “But that doesn't mean I
have to leave you there.” Blushing, she met his eyes as he
continued. “If you wish it, you can return with me. Safia, I–”
His next words were broken by an otherworldly sound:
BRRRRGHBEEEWHHRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!
Instantly, his sword was drawn and he
was on his feet before her, ready to defend. Safia, wide-eyed
and with hands over her ears, was frozen in place, terrified.
Rydan's sword, aimed steadily down his
ship's deck, swerved right and left trying to discern the source of
the horrid sound. His men were coming to life, roused suddenly by
the monstrous noise.
At last, Rydan pinpointed the
direction of the noise and moved forward, gesturing for Safia to
stay. Slowly, he walked to the ship's port side where a skiff had
been lowered earlier that day for fishing purposes. As he came
nearer to the railing, he began to make out a voice bellowing over
the monster.
“Blast it, lassie, that ain't no
tree! It's a bloomin' boat!”
Leading with his sword arm, Rydan
peered over the edge just as a scattering of his crew arrived. What
he saw left him far more bewildered than before. A big man, not as
tall as Mo, yet just as broad, wearing blue overalls, a faded
red-flannel shirt, and baseball cap, stood in the little boat with a
broken oar and an annoyed expression. Despite being quite bald, the
man sported a bushy beard. In his hands was the source of the sound.
He pounded and tugged at the object, finally silencing its
monstrosity. The man was still mumbling unintelligible words to
himself when Rydan decided to address him. But before the prince
even uttered a word, his childhood friend, Peder, was suddenly at his
side.
“What is this? Dan–” The young
Guard's features changed to sudden recognition and he scrambled to
the ship's side. “YOU!”
Baffled,
but sensing no danger whatsoever, Rydan sheathed his sword and
signaled for his men to do the same as they listened to the banter
between the stranger and Peder Grey, Guard of Gondoa.
“What is going on?” Rydan turned
to find Safia at his elbow.
“Looks like we have a stowaway,
though for the life of me, I cannot figure how we missed him. It
appears that Peder is acquainted. If that is the case, it
is probably best we do not know.” Rydan called to the sailors
standing by the rigging and ordered them to hoist the skiff up.
While his men worked to bring the little boat level with the top
deck, Safia and Rydan listened to the conversation commencing between
the annoyed guardsman and the mysterious stranger.
“. . .This is a royal ship! And we
are in the middle of the Tandic Sea! What in heaven's name are you
doing here??”
“Tandic Sea? Royalty? Oi, sonny!
Don't I know you?” The big man's mouth widened in a beaming grin
and he slapped his thigh in recognition. “Well I'll be buttered,
you're the fellow from the forest, eh? You sure get around,
don'tcha?”
By now, the boat was level with the
deck, and Peder glared up at the man afresh. But before the young
man could speak another word, the stranger slapped his own forehead
with a beefy hand, startling Peder, and exclaimed, “Don't tell me,
I've done it again! Blasted portals! Down to the depths whoever
thought of mayonnaise!”
Rubbing his temples with the tips of
his fingers, Peder muttered, “That would be the French.”
“What?”
“Nevermind.”
As the banter continued, Rydan
shrugged and ordered his men to return to work. Turning to Safia,
who stood quietly watching the two with a smile, he offered his arm.
“Come on. Let us leave them to it,
shall we?”
“But what is that thing?” Rydan
looked to where the strange object rested on the deck.
Again, he shrugged his shoulders, “Who
knows? Probably some contraption of the future, so made to saw
effortlessly through whole trees.”
“What?” “I don't know. What say we go to
the galley?”
-----------------------------------------------
(photo via Pinterest)
*beams*
What did you think? Not as funny as my first. . . But still. It was so much fun to write!
This writing exercise is perfect if you are currently suffering through a writer's block. Or even just for fun! Pick a character or two, put them in their own normal, little world, then add a random man with a chainsaw. Simple, yes? Have fun with it!
*beams*
What did you think? Not as funny as my first. . . But still. It was so much fun to write!
This writing exercise is perfect if you are currently suffering through a writer's block. Or even just for fun! Pick a character or two, put them in their own normal, little world, then add a random man with a chainsaw. Simple, yes? Have fun with it!
Ahahahaha!! This is HILARIOUS. What an idea. I might have to try it sometime. I'm dying! Also, I lost it at “Aye. Beware the ladle.” *snorts*
ReplyDeleteI so love your writing style. You have a real talent. Keep it up!
I really like this Sarah!
ReplyDeleteLauri: Thank you! I'm so glad to hear that my writings have made someone laugh! Mo is one of my absolute co-characters. I love writing with him! One of my sisters has drawn him for me, maybe I'll post it sometime.
ReplyDeleteMorgan: Thank you so much!
You both have made my day!!!
Gotta admit Sarah, that was pretty funny! Great job!
ReplyDeleteAlways Experiencing Him,
Mom